(16 May 2019) Locations: UNHCR Baghdad
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National Protection Cluster Minutes of Meeting (16 May 2019) Locations: UNHCR Baghdad, NCCI Erbil, plus Webex Chaired by: Claudia Nicoletti (NPC Co-Coordinator) 1. Review of Action Points from 18 April meeting – (MOM here attached - 5 mins) 2. Strategic & Thematic Updates: a. Strategic Update from Ninewa / KR-I PWGs (10 mins) b. Strategic Update from C/S PWG (10 mins) c. Thematic Update from GBV Sub-Cluster (10 mins) d. Thematic Update from Child Protection Sub-Cluster (10 mins) e. Thematic Update from Mine Action Sub-Cluster (10 mins) f. Thematic Update from HLP Sub-Cluster (10 mins) g. Strategic Update from CwC Task Force (10 mins) h. Update from NPC – Update on “Protection & Solutions for Vulnerable IDPs/Returnees” next steps, Update on Service Advisor Platform workshops (10 mins) i. Update from RPA mechanism (10 mins) 3. AOB - Presentation by Social Inquiry on the “Mental Health: psychosocial dimensions of displacement” study (15 mins) 1. Review of Action Points from 18 April meeting NPC members to start preparing their services based on Completed. Service Advisory Platform trainings to be the template that will be circulated in preparation for organised soon. trainings and data entry; NPC members to assign Service Advisor focal points that will be responsible to manage the entry of the services. Minutes adopted without amendments. 2a. Strategic Update from KRI & Ninewa PWG Ninewa Protection partners in camp continue to identify violations of the civilian character of camps, discriminatory practices of distribution (as well as some incidents of aid diversion). IDPs without documentation also continue to report movement restrictions due to the fear of detentions, unjustified delays and harassment at checkpoints. This is often associated with individuals’ previous experiences or reference to experiences of relatives and friends. Authorities in Ninewa governorate continue to pressure humanitarian organizations and IDPs to share IDP individual data, contrary to the principles of proportionality and purpose limitation governing data protection in humanitarian action. Formal requests related mostly to biodata of IDP camp residents, overall details of camp population, displacement trends (in some instances targeting individuals from outside Ninewa governorate), and information on persons without legal documentation. In addition, camp management and protection actors reported incidents where non-humanitarian actors instructed IDPs in camps to collect information about their fellow residents without due consideration of data protection principles or respect for the right to privacy. Last incidents reported included request in particular camps to share the number of people not originally from Ninewa governorate, and explain the reasons for (i) not segregating families with perceived affiliation to extremists, (ii) not forcibly returning families from outside Ninewa to their governorates of origin, and (iii) for not denying access to camps for individuals secondarily displaced. The incident was also accompanied by officials spreading misinformation (namely that humanitarian assistance will no longer be free) among camp residents. On 25 April, community leaders from some camps reported being requested to share lists of empty tents in their respective camp sectors. Overall, pressured individuals expressed discomfort in gathering this information and fear relating to non-compliance of requests. 1 KRI IDPs continue to arrive across KR in small numbers (51 families, 162 individuals in Dohuk; 10 families, 80 individuals in Erbil in the last month), with exception of camps in Sulaymaniyah. Small numbers across Erbil and Dohuk are closely linked to the lack of plots available in camps, and waiting lists are in place in some camps. In Sulaymaniyah, only one family was registered as new arrivals over the past three months. Protection and CCCM Clusters are working with colleagues on the ground to understand the reasons for no arrivals. The lack of new arrivals comes following the suspension of a previous decision issued by JCC Sulaymaniyah not to allow new arrival in camps. Protection partners are invited to share with the Sulaymaniyah PWG or KRI PWG and/or NPC Coordinators any information that they have and deem appropriate to better understand the situation. In Sulaymaniyah, the Government has also announced the closure of Surdesh camp (which currently hosts 67 families). CCCM and Protection actors are working to ensure that the closure is done in an appropriate manner and without exacerbating protection risks. Challenges to date have identified have related mainly to sectoral divisions among populations. We continue to identify new arrivals of Yazidi families in Dohuk (in May, 15 arrived to camps). Main protection needs identified on the ground related to MHPSS and medical assistance. Partners are working to assess the situation of returnees in urban areas. Access to documentation remains a primary concern in KRI Governorates. In Dohuk, recent surveys conducted in Bersive I and II shows an average of 30 per cent of IDPs are missing and/or in need of some type of civil documentation, including civil ID, PDS card, birth certificate. Mobile visits by the Ninewa Civil Affair Directorates to IDP camps in Duhok are continuing; however on an ad hoc basis. A holistic approach (with a need for institutionalization and sustainability considerations) is required. 2b. Strategic Update from C/S PWG Anbar – displacement trends: Secondary displacement continued in Anbar during the reporting period. It is reported that three families, originally from Al-Qaim, moved from Baghdad and Ramadi to Habbaniya Turistic City (HTC) and Bzebiz camp in Anbar, because of the inability to pay the rent and lack of livelihood opportunities in their areas of origin. Returns: During the reporting period, 31 IDP families voluntarily returned to Erbil from Amiriyat Al Fallujha camp, Jazerat area in Ramadi district, Al-Karma city in Falluja district, and Jazerat Heet. MoMD and the ISF facilitated the return of these families. On 9 May, the ISF forcibly relocated seven families (29 individuals, of which 27 women and children) to HTC camp; allegedly, the justification used by the ISF to arrest forcibly relocate the families to HTC camp was that their houses were located near the area where an IED explosion occurred (in Nu’yamia town, south of Fallujah city). ISF informed families that this action was punishment for not sharing enough information about individuals responsible for planting the IED, and that they deserved to live in camps. Advocacy by humanitarian partners resulted in the ability of the families to return to their homes. Humanitarian actors are expecting higher numbers of families that will decide to return to their areas of origin after the academic year ends (end of May/beginning of June 2019). Protection Concerns: Security incidents took place during the reporting period in Rutba where the ISF conducted military search operation. The ISF jointly with PMF and tribe fighters conducted a military search operation along 230 km of the Iraqi-Syrian border targeting extremist elements. The security incidents in the area resulted in increased security measures, which impact IDPs’ capacity to return to their areas of origin and also raise concerns related to instances of collective punishments against families with perceived affiliation. Local authorities and tribe leaders of Karma and Fallujah are planning to establish reconciliation activities in both districts to encourage IDPs of AAF and HTC to return. The local authorities of Fallujah started a preparation step by disseminated forms on the IDPs of AAF to collect detailed information about the families, areas of origin and reasons of remaining in displacement. Reportedly, the local authorities and tribe leaders want to obtain more details about the IDPs and main reasons of not returning to AoO. As reported by Anbar legal partners, individuals wishing to apply for the Unified Card (civil IDs, residency card, and citizenship certificate) are applying through private offices due to slow internet service, as well as limited registration slots per day. The overall cost is between IQD 5,000-30,000 IQD per person. Anbar legal partners confirmed that the procedure remains free of charge in other governorates and the Jensya departments in West Anbar also emphasized that the procedures will be free of charge once is activated in the respective districts. UNHCR, IRC and DRC advocated with the Nationality Directorate of Anbar who advised bringing this issue to a higher level of General Directorate of Civil Affairs, Passports and Residency in Baghdad to solve this issue. Reportedly, on 2 May, the spokesperson of the Council of Representatives held a meeting with officials and tribe leaders of Anbar to discuss ways of facilitating the return of IDPs to their areas of origin. The discussions also included facilitating the return of North Babil IDPs (Jurf Alsakhar and Al-Ewysat areas) who are currently displaced in Anbar. 2 Reportedly, the head of the Security Committe of Anbar stated that the government is working to solve the issues related to perople with perceived affiliation, and to facilitate the return of IDPs to their areas of origin. He also referred to the risks that people with perceived affiliation face when returning to AoO (if conflict with the community is not properly addressed). The representative of the Security Committee of the Anbar confirmed that there is a lack of accurate information on more than